A Game You Can't Win
The American public is alarmed about crime, and with good reason. Our crime rate is unacceptably high, and many Americans feel like prisoners in their own homes, afraid to venture out for fear of becoming another statistic. For more than 20 years, state and federal crime control policies have been based on the belief that harsh sentencing laws will deter people from committing crimes. In 1997, armed criminals in Florida committed more than 34,000 crimes, victimizing in excess of 93 people a day. These victims receive a life sentence of pain, fear, and often death. The perpetrators who impose these sentences must be punished and removed from society to protect innocent people. Florida incarcerated a total of 66,280 criminals in 1998(Orlando Sentinel). According to the Council on Crime in America, incarcerating one criminal in state prison for one year can prevent as many as 21 crimes (Swanson, 342). It can be argued that the "Three Strikes" law stops repeat violent offenders with the threat of longer sentences after each conviction. In agreement with the need for imposed jail terms, allowing three indiv
The "3 Strikes" law may be asserted as a preventative measure in the sense that it is: three separate crimes, three separate trials, and three separate convictions. These steps in the judicial system would encourage stiffer sentencing with each progressive offense. It might be claimed to deter future criminal aspirations. The "3 Strikes" law falls short of punishing criminals. Judges already have the ability to mete out severe penalties to violent criminals and should be forced by the citizens of this country to uphold our safety. Incarcerating violent felons for lengthy prison terms reduces crime and protects the public. There should be mandatory prison terms assessed to these violent acts for first offenses. The "3 Strikes" law will not stop most criminals from committing violent acts, as most crimes are not premeditated. They are committed in anger, in the heat of passion, or under the influence of alcohol. The prospect of a life sentence is not going to stop people who are acting impulsively. We will begin to realize a less crime-infested society when we begin to deal with our weak penalization policies. What citizens
Some common words found in the essay are:
Due Process, Win American, Crime America, County California, Center Perpetrators, Reynolds Crime, strikes law, 3 strikes law, 3 strikes, Morgan Reynolds, release criminals, violent criminals, expected punishment, judicial system, violent acts, life sentence, prison terms, criminal justice,
Approximate Word count = 769
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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